The HSBC Women’s World Championship which begins tomorrow at Sentosa Golf Club, Tanjong Course, has drawn an impressive line-up of international stars and homegrown talent ready to compete in ‘Asia’s Major’ tournament. Olympic gold medallist Lydia Ko, known for her focus and calm under pressure, reflected on her long association with the event.
“Somebody was actually asking me how many times I’ve been to Singapore and played this event, and I thought it was around 11. So, yeah, it shows how long I’ve been on tour. You know, this is my 12th year, and I think the only time I really wasn’t here was because of COVID,” Ko shared.
The 27-year-old New Zealander shared her thoughts on the fine margins that separate good days from bad days, and the importance of confidence.
“It’s all marginal difference from a few lip-outs to getting a good lie in the fairway to maybe going in a divot,” Ko explained. “Some things are really out of your control. Like I was telling my Pro-Am partners today, there’s a lot of variables in golf, and I think that’s why it’s so difficult having 14 different clubs. No one to the second shot is the same lie. We play in different countries and different grasses. So I think there’s less common ground than things that change all the time.”
“Sometimes it’s really out of my hands if the wind picks up when I’ve already made contact with the ball and it affects the ball in a good or bad way. It’s really not my fault at the end of the day,” she said.
For Ko, confidence has been the key to navigating the highs and lows of professional golf.
“Confidence is a really big thing, and I think that’s probably been the biggest momentum shifter for me between when I’m playing well or not,” she noted.
Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand
Thailand’s star Jeeno Thitikul, returning to Sentosa for the fourth time, echoed similar sentiments about the course and her growth as a player.
“I just really had really good memories here,” Thitikul recalled, reminiscing about her first experience at Sentosa in 2018 during the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Championship.
Fresh off a few busy weeks that saw her notch a win in the PIF Saudi Ladies International and celebrating her birthday back home, the 22-year-old added, “I just really want to carry on things now. My game is on, even though last week (Honda LPGA) was a bit sore and busy, there were a lot of positives with how I played.”
“I think now I am more relaxed. If I miss a shot or I’m not doing well, I just accept it. You can’t be good every day; it’s just golf—a game of mistakes, ” she added.
Singapore native Shannon Tan, who has grown up watching the HSBC Women’s World Championship, expressed her excitement about competing before a home crowd.
“For me, the invite feels very special,” Tan said. “I’ve grown up watching golf in Singapore, playing in events like the HSBC Youth Golf Challenge. It’s always been my major, and to now be part of the HSBC Women’s World Championships is both an honour and a dream come true.”
Shannon Tan and XingTong Chen of Singapore
Tan stressed her focused approach, “I just treat it like any other event—taking it one shot at a time, one hole at a time, and doing my best.”
Joining Tan on the greens is 16-year-old amateur Xingtong Chen, who made local headlines by winning the national qualifier for the second time in a row. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to compete with the world’s best,” Chen said. “Being the only Singaporean on the field last year was daunting, but now I feel more prepared and confident in handling the pressure.”
This year’s line-up also includes 19 major champions, 46 LPGA winners with a combined total of 174 titles, 21 Solheim Cup players with 45 appearances, six former world No.1s, and for the first time two Singaporean players.
Of the 16 editions, 14 have been won by major champions, a testament to the golfers’ claim that this is ‘Asia’s Major’. The 2024 field featured a diverse field, with players from 22 nationalities, including 20 Major champions and 8 of the world’s top 10.
The 72-hole stroke play tournament will once again be played on The Tanjong Course at Sentosa Golf Club, which hosts its 12th edition of the tournament.
